Jernigan Daniel B, Raghunathan Pratima L, Bell Beth P, Brechner Ross, Bresnitz Eddy A, Butler Jay C, Cetron Marty, Cohen Mitch, Doyle Timothy, Fischer Marc, Greene Carolyn, Griffith Kevin S, Guarner Jeannette, Hadler James L, Hayslett James A, Meyer Richard, Petersen Lyle R, Phillips Michael, Pinner Robert, Popovic Tanja, Quinn Conrad P, Reefhuis Jennita, Reissman Dori, Rosenstein Nancy, Schuchat Anne, Shieh Wun-Ju, Siegal Larry, Swerdlow David L, Tenover Fred C, Traeger Marc, Ward John W, Weisfuse Isaac, Wiersma Steven, Yeskey Kevin, Zaki Sherif, Ashford David A, Perkins Bradley A, Ostroff Steve, Hughes James, Fleming David, Koplan Jeffrey P, Gerberding Julie L
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
Emerg Infect Dis. 2002 Oct;8(10):1019-28. doi: 10.3201/eid0810.020353.
In October 2001, the first inhalational anthrax case in the United States since 1976 was identified in a media company worker in Florida. A national investigation was initiated to identify additional cases and determine possible exposures to Bacillus anthracis. Surveillance was enhanced through health-care facilities, laboratories, and other means to identify cases, which were defined as clinically compatible illness with laboratory-confirmed B. anthracis infection. From October 4 to November 20, 2001, 22 cases of anthrax (11 inhalational, 11 cutaneous) were identified; 5 of the inhalational cases were fatal. Twenty (91%) case-patients were either mail handlers or were exposed to worksites where contaminated mail was processed or received. B. anthracis isolates from four powder-containing envelopes, 17 specimens from patients, and 106 environmental samples were indistinguishable by molecular subtyping. Illness and death occurred not only at targeted worksites, but also along the path of mail and in other settings. Continued vigilance for cases is needed among health-care providers and members of the public health and law enforcement communities.
2001年10月，佛罗里达州一名媒体公司员工被确诊为1976年以来美国首例吸入性炭疽病例。随即展开全国性调查，以确定更多病例，并查明可能接触炭疽芽孢杆菌的情况。通过医疗机构、实验室及其他途径加强监测，以发现病例，病例定义为临床症状符合且经实验室确诊感染炭疽芽孢杆菌的疾病。2001年10月4日至11月20日，共确诊22例炭疽病例（11例吸入性，11例皮肤性）；其中5例吸入性病例死亡。20名（91%）病例患者要么是邮件处理人员，要么接触过处理或接收过受污染邮件的工作场所。通过分子分型发现，来自四个装有粉末信封的炭疽芽孢杆菌分离株、17份患者标本及106份环境样本难以区分。疾病和死亡不仅发生在目标工作场所，还出现在邮件传递路径沿线及其他场所。医疗服务人员、公共卫生和执法部门人员仍需继续保持警惕，留意病例情况。
